Following the judgment of the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal that nullified the election of Governor Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), revelations have surfaced about a grand plot to build Nigeria’s biggest mosque in State’s capital city of Port Harcourt.
According to sources, the plan, which dates back to 2012, is to repossess a large portion of old Port Harcourt Township from the popular Aggrey Road, through Victoria to Bonny Streets and unto Creek Road and convert it to a new development to be called Great Dawatul City.
The developers of the project, which will have Nigeria’s largest Mosque, 6,000 units of 3 and 5 bedroom residential duplexes and world class business arcades as its star attractions intend to use it as a global model to showcase and redefine Islam as a progressive religion in cosmopolitan cities around the world.
Funding for the project it was said, had been secured by a billionaire mogul and industrialist who himself had negotiated some years ago to purchase the entire shoreline from the Creek Road axis which he has earmarked for world class luxury apartments and Africa’s first 7 Star hotel.
Possession of the shoreline was hindered by the Goodluck Jonathan administration’s refusal to give its nod following agitations by local inhabitants of the area claiming forced eviction. The new plan, it is reliably gathered has got the nod of the Presidency and will have residents and property owners handsomely compensated in return for their lands.
A former governor of the State who is already in talks with the promoters of the Estate development assured them of cooperation on the condition that allegations of corruption against him are ignored and the current Governor Nyesom Wike is removed from office to facilitate the smooth implementation of the project.
The developers plan to market the project as an open society which would provide jobs for the teeming unemployed and change the skyline and landscape of the Garden City.
The area earmarked for the multi billion dollar project already has the highest concentration of Northerners in the city and is expected to see an increase especially of elite class after its completion in 2023.
